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The Tamil Nadu government has opposed NEET-based admission to undergraduate and postgraduate medical courses from the beginning
Why and how was NEET introduced?
- The Medical Council of India (MCI) proposed the NEET in 2009 with the stated goal of ensuring inter-se merit in medical admissions
- And this is to avoid multiple entrance tests administered by various agencies, governments, and deemed universities.
- 2013: by the majority of a 2:1 verdict, the Supreme Court had struck down the NEET as unconstitutional
- 2016: Five judge bench headed by Justice Anil. R. Dave, in a rare order, recalled its 2013 judgment and eventually mandated the conduct of the Exam
Was Tamil Nadu the only State to oppose NEET?
- Gujarat: it was “torture” to impose the exam on students who had already mentally prepared for the State entrance exams.
- Tamil Nadu: State does not have a legacy of entrance exams since 2007.
- Jammu and Kashmir, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana:
- They invoked special provisions in the Constitution to contend that only the State and not the Centre had the legislative competence to conduct examinations for MBBS and BDS courses.
What are the challenges associated with the NEET Exam?
- Non-representative: TN opposes it because NEET undermined the diverse societal representation in MBBS and higher medical studies.
- Disfavors the poor: It has favoured mainly the affordable and affluent sections of society and thwarted the dreams of underprivileged social groups.
- Exams for the elite: It considers NEET not a fair or equitable method of admission since it favoured the rich and elite sections of society.
- Healthcare concerns: If continued, the rural and urban poor may not be able to pursue medical courses.
What were the AK Rajan committee findings?
- Tamil Nadu government constituted a committee headed by retired High Court judge A.K Rajan to study the effects of the NEET-based admission process.
- Findings of the Committee
- The majority were not in favour of the NEET requirement
- Higher secondary examination of the State board itself was good enough for the selection of students for MBBS seats.
- NEET only worked against underprivileged government school students and profited from coaching centres and the rich.
What is the current status?
- While most states have adopted NEET the Tamil Nadu government remains opposed to it with the backing of all major political parties
- In February this year, after the Bill was returned by the Governor, for the first time in the history of the state Legislative Assembly, the Bill was readopted by the House and sent back to the Governor.
- The Bill is at present with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) for Presidential assent
Pic Courtesy: Indian Express
Content Source: The Hindu